Parthian Dawn

Chapter 20

I summoned the council that afternoon and it convened on the palace balcony five hours after midday. It had been nearly two months since we had defeated Chosroes outside the city wall and my leg had now healed fully, though I had a nasty scar where the wound had been, as had my arm. Fortunately I also had no limp, though Alcaeus informed me that I still might develop one in later life — something to look forward to in my old age!

The army had recovered its strength after the battle and once more trade had returned to normal, an endless stream of carts and camels filling the road to and from the East and Egypt. No word had come from Ctesiphon and my father had also heard nothing from the court of the King of Kings.

‘They are replenishing their stocks of malice,’ was Dobbai’s comment on the ominous silence.

I had hoped that Narses himself, now in possession of the command that I had held when I had the favour of Phraates, would lead an army against me so that I could destroy him once and for all.

‘Narses has been burned by you before,’ remarked Godarz. ‘I doubt he will try again in the near future, especially since now you have an alliance of other kings behind you.’

‘Exactly,’ I said, ‘and for that reason the time is ripe to strike while I have an opportunity to do so.’

Domitus, as was his wont, often fiddled with his dagger during these meetings. Now he stopped and looked at me. ‘Strike where?’

‘Uruk, of course.’

‘Is that wise, majesty?’ asked Rsan, no doubt already alarmed at the expense of yet another campaign.

‘Very wise, Rsan, and long overdue,’ I replied.

‘I see the reason why you were so keen to retain the engineers now,’ said Domitus.

I told them of my plan to strike southeast and assault the city of Uruk, the capital of Mesene and the stronghold of Chosroes.

‘He thinks he is safe behind his walls,’ I said, ‘but he has reckoned without my siege engines that our Roman allies have agreed to operate.’

‘You would storm the city?’ Nergal looked alarmed.

‘Of course,’ I replied. ‘I do not intend to just sit in front of his walls.’

‘To what end, son of Hatra?’ Even Dobbai was intrigued.

‘To the end of removing Chosroes and sending a message to his allies that Dura is not to be underestimated or insulted.’

‘I think they know that already,’ commented Godarz.

‘I would have a friend sitting on Mesene’s throne,’ I said.

I gave no further details but ordered Domitus to prepare his legions for the march south, which would commence in two weeks, and for Nergal to ready his horse archers. Orodes had been made commander of all the cataphracts, leaving me free to command the whole army, and I asked him to ensure that the heavy cavalry was fully armed and equipped after its exertions in the last battle. I told Godarz that we would be away from Dura for no longer than three months. I also sent word to Palmyra that I would like to see Byrd and Malik and they duly arrived three days later. They were informed of my plan and I asked Malik if he would like to accompany us; he agreed, of course, as did Byrd. Malik, because he liked being a warlord, and Byrd because he liked the company of his friend Malik. I was very pleased to have my old companions with me once more. I also asked Gallia and her Amazons to march with us.

‘What are you up to?’ she said suspiciously.

‘I don’t know what you mean.’

‘Usually you try to keep the Amazons and me for that matter, as far away from your army as possible, but now you wish us to march alongside you.’

‘Of course,’ I replied, ‘is it not natural for a husband to want his beloved wife by his side?’

She was far from convinced. ‘I know that something is afoot, Pacorus, so you might as well tell me.’

I placed two fingers on her lips.

‘All will be revealed, my love, all will be revealed.’

I decided to leave five hundred horse archers behind to stiffen the garrison of five hundred legionaries. I doubted that Dura would be attacked a third time but it was better to be safe than sorry. Nergal was far from happy but his mood lightened when I told him that he would be commanding the lords and their retinues once more.

‘We do not need all their men,’ I told him, ‘if each lord brings a hundred men that will suffice. Kuban will also be coming with us.’

‘Gallia commands his men,’ said Nergal.

‘Not in battle. When it comes to a fight you will lead our friends from Margiana. And get a new shirt and leggings, Nergal. You are, after all, the commander of all my horse.’

‘Yes, lord.’

Nergal had never been one for gaudy uniforms, but it was time he dressed according to his rank. To that end I had the armourers make him a new helmet, a beautiful piece with steel neck guard, cheekguards and silver strips inlaid in its crown. I also ordered him a white cloak edged with silver. He was delighted with these gifts when I presented them to him, though also confused.

‘You are too generous, lord.’

‘Nonsense,’ I replied, ‘you are a great warlord of Parthia now, Nergal, and people need to be reminded of that.’

Praxima was also delighted and said it was about time that her husband was attired according to his rank. After we had finished entertaining them both in the palace, Gallia, still suspicious, questioned me further.

‘Nergal does not need fancy clothes to win the respect of his men,’ she said, ‘he has that already.’

‘I know that,’ I replied, avoiding her eyes.

‘And since we have been here you have cared little how Nergal dresses. So why now?’

‘I just feel that he should look the part, that is all.’

She shook her head. ‘I don’t trust you; I can tell that something is brewing.’

But I would say no more on the matter and that was that. The next day I had an invitation to attend Dobbai in her private chambers. Her room was down the corridor from our own bedroom, though no one ventured past its doors, mostly through fear that they would not come out alive. But I never heard any strange noises that indicated that sorcery was being practised and we never broached the subject of what was in her room out of respect for her. The palace staff had grown quite fond of Dobbai despite her uncouth ways and fierce tongue, and Claudia of course loved her. It was a source of comfort to me that she lived with us, though I knew that at any time she might leave and never be seen again. That said, I liked to think that she was happy here.

I swallowed and then knocked on the doors.

‘Enter.’

I opened one of the doors and walked in. I had expected to be met by a room covered in cobwebs, filthy and with a foul odour. Instead I found a neat and tidy space with a single bed along one wall, two rows of shelves opposite holding neatly arranged scrolls and jars of what I assumed were herbs of some sort, and a table and chair next to the twin doors that opened onto her own balcony. Light and airy, a slight smell of incense entered my nostrils.

‘Why did you summon me?’ I asked.

She smiled. ‘I know what you desire, but I have to tell you that if you march to Mesene the empire will be engulfed in flames.’

‘Chosroes must be punished for his attack against me.’

She shrugged. ‘Is not his defeat and the destruction of his army not punishment enough?’

‘No.’

‘I would advise against it.’

I was in no mood for her games. ‘Why, have the gods spoken to you, threatening divine retribution against me for daring to fight for my kingdom’s freedom?’

She said nothing for a few seconds. ‘Why do you speak of the gods with such disrespect? Has your thirst for revenge dimmed your wits? The gods have been kind to you thus far; it is unwise to insult them.’

‘There is no honour left in the empire,’ I said with disgust.

She doubled up with laughter, placing her hands on her knees.

‘Since when has there been any honour in Parthia, or anywhere else for that matter? What a foolish man you are at times.’

‘Narses and Mithridates must be removed. They will destroy the empire if they are allowed to go unchecked.’

‘Ah, now we come to it. You wish to see Ctesiphon purged of the family of Phraates and its supporters.’

‘I wish to see order and honour restored to the empire,’ I said grandly.

‘And you think marching on Mesene will achieve that?’

‘It is a start,’ I replied.

She looked directly into my eyes.

‘Perhaps Dura is too small for King Pacorus, perhaps he wishes to sit on the throne at Ctesiphon.’

‘Don’t be absurd.’

She still fixed me with her stare. ‘Absurd is it? No more absurd than returning from Italy like a dead man returning from the underworld, or making peace with the Agraci, or defeating your enemies before Dura.’

‘I do not wish to be King of Kings,’ I said firmly.

‘Then I say this to you again, son of Hatra,’ her voice had an ominous tone, ‘if you embark upon the path of retribution you will plunge the empire into chaos, the outcome of which may not be to your advantage or liking.’

‘No,’ I shouted, ‘Chosroes will be held accountable for his actions, even if it means all the demons of the underworld are unleashed upon the world.’

‘You go to kill Chosroes.’

‘Yes.’

She shrugged. ‘It is of no concern to me. Do what you will.’

‘I will.’

She pointed a bony figure at me. ‘The gods love chaos and they love you, son of Hatra, for you give them what they desire most.’

‘And what is that?’

‘An endless river of blood.’

‘Well, then,’ I said smugly, ‘if the gods love me then I cannot lose.’

She nodded and smiled. ‘You cannot outwit the gods, son of Hatra.’

‘As long as they are not against me, then I will settle for that.’

I was little troubled by Dobbai’s warning, and in any case I had no desire to take control of the empire. Just a short, sharp campaign in Mesene and then things would return to normal. My father wrote to me saying that still no word had come from Ctesiphon but that he had heard from Babylon, Media, Elymais and Atropaiene and even from Khosrou and Musa. They all pledged their allegiance to him and Dura, which further stiffened my resolve to punish Mesene. I was careful not to mention my plan to him, as I knew that he would try to dissuade me. I was not to be denied on this matter.

Practical matters pushed Dobbai’s musings aside as the final preparations were made for the campaign. Haytham sent a thousand horsemen to accompany Malik and Gallia told Kuban that he was to obey Nergal for the duration of the expedition. Kuban was delighted to be marching once again. No doubt the prospect of more slaughter filled him and his men with glee. The area around the legionary camp began to fill with tents, horses and camels as the lords and their followers rode into Dura. Kuban’s men had established their own camp south of the city, a sprawling collection of tents, each one domed, circular and made from a wooden frame covered with felt. The felt itself was made from the hair of camels, sheep, goats and horses and was remarkably resistant to the wind. The whole structure was tied down with straps that crisscrossed over the tent. They varied in size from those accommodating five men to Kuban’s command tent, which could billet up to fifteen people. Each tent took around an hour to set up or take down, though on campaign he and his men usually slept in the open beside their horses, though Kuban told me that they also slept in the saddle when the need arose. They numbered just under a thousand men now, having suffered some casualties during the battle with the Mesenians. Domitus grumbled that they were ill disciplined, which meant that they would not take his orders, but they were fierce warriors and a welcome addition to the army. Besides, technically they were under Gallia’s command.

The cataphracts had suffered greatly during our venture in Gordyene, but with the promotion of squires and the induction of new ones from the sons of the kingdom’s farmers their strength was brought up to eight hundred men. Of the five hundred heavy cavalry that Orodes had brought with him from Susiana, only two hundred and fifty were still alive, but they still rode under the banner of their prince and were accorded equal status with the Durans. Before we marched Domitus added another disc to the staff of victory, bearing the image of a burning camp.

‘I thought your decision to choke everyone with smoke should be immortalised,’ he said as I stood beside him in the tent that also held the gold griffin standard.

‘That is most considerate of you,’ I said. ‘Are the legions ready?’

‘They are ready, and they know that they are going to wreak vengeance on the Mesenians.’

‘How is their mood?’ I asked.

‘Excellent, the boys like the idea of visiting death and destruction on the bastards who threatened their families.’

I looked at him. ‘And how do you feel?’

‘I obey orders.’

‘I know that, Domitus, but as one friend to another, what is your opinion?’

‘Men respect strength,’ he replied gruffly, ‘so if we give those Mesenians a good hiding then that will send a message to anyone who’s thinking of tangling with us again.’

He had confirmed what I believed, though I was determined to give Chosroes more than a good hiding.

We set off on an overcast morning, a slight drizzle in the air, marching south on the western side of the Euphrates. As the legions tramped out of their camp and Byrd and Malik rode at the head of a large party of Agraci scouts, I said goodbye to my daughter in the Citadel’s courtyard. Dobbai held her hand. She cried when she realised that her father and mother were leaving her. It was heartbreaking to see her in such a condition, and Gallia had tears in her eyes as she embraced her daughter. Rsan stood on the steps beside Godarz, his head bowed in reverence. Dobbai wore a resigned expression — she was still obviously perturbed by my course of action.

‘Take care of yourself, son of Hatra.’

I scooped up Claudia in my arms and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Have no fear, I will be back in no time. After all, the gods love me, do they not?’

I put Claudia down and she grabbed Dobbai’s hand. Behind me Surena was sitting in his saddle holding Remus’ reins. I nodded to Godarz who nodded back; then I vaulted onto Remus’ back and rode from the Citadel, followed by Gallia and her Amazons. It was just another busy day in Dura as the long line of legionaries, marching six abreast, snaked south towards Mesene. To their front and on their right flank hundreds of horsemen filled the horizon. We marched with nine thousand legionaries, a thousand Agraci cavalry, just over a thousand cataphracts, Kuban’s nine hundred horsemen, five hundred of Dura’s horse archers and another two thousand horsemen that the lords had mustered. It was more than enough to defeat the remnants of the army of Chosroes that had scurried back to Mesene. We also had the Roman engineers and their siege engines with which to batter the walls of Uruk.

The quickest route there was to head east from Dura and then march down the east bank of the Euphrates, but that would entail traversing Hatran and Babylonian territory and I did not wish to antagonise my father or take advantage of Vardan’s friendship, so we marched on the opposite bank. In former times this would have been suicidal with open war between Dura’s rulers and the Agraci, but now it was a pleasant enough journey. We maintained a brisk pace, covering twenty miles a day. Domitus insisted that we built a camp every night and that everyone slept within its ramparts. During the day those horsemen who were not undertaking scouting duties dismounted and walked their horses, not only to save their mounts but also to maintain their physical condition. Men sitting in saddles on long marches with nothing to do are apt to go to sleep, especially if in friendly territory, and this was certainly that. Nevertheless, we still maintained our standard marching order. Far ahead of the army were Byrd, Malik and his Agraci warriors, riding far and wide to ensure our safety and to collect any useful information. The tip of the army comprised small parties of horse archers. If they came into contact with the enemy they were to instantly disengage and ride back to the army to pass on their information. Next came a vanguard of a hundred fully armoured cataphracts followed by the senior commanders of the army and their standards. The Amazons also rode with this assembly. Behind this group came the rest of the cataphracts and their camels carrying their armour and supplies and then mules and carts pulled by oxen carrying the battering rams and other siege equipment of the Roman engineers. Behind them came the colour party of the Duran Legion with its gold griffin and guards. The trumpeters followed them and then came the cohorts of legionaries divided into their centuries. The men marched six abreast and were accompanied by centurions with their trusty vine canes. The Pontic Legion, the Exiles, followed the Durans. It now had its own standard, a silver lion representing the revered beast of Pontus that had also been the standard of Balas. It had been cast from the silver taken from the armour and helmets of the dead Mesenian soldiers recently slain before the walls of Dura. The tents, spare weapons, armour and other supplies for the two legions came after them, carried by hundreds of mules and dozens of wagons. The lords and their followers trailed after the legions, with a body of Duran horse archers forming the rearguard and more horse archers acting as flank guards and scouts. As the day wore on the drizzle ceased as the sun burnt away the clouds, warming the earth. Soon the thousands of feet and hooves tramping across the baked ground had produced a dust cloud hanging over the whole army, stretching for ten miles.

Dura’s territory extended south of the city for a distance of a hundred miles and after that came the empty vastness of the Arabian desert; an endless wilderness of sand that the Agraci called the Rub’al-Khali, the Empty Quarter; yet it was far from empty. It was home to the Agraci and the striped hyena, jackal, honey badger, sand gazelle and white oryx. Within Dura’s borders the land next to the Euphrates was fully irrigated and cultivated, but as we marched beyond my kingdom’s southern border the land turned into a red sand wasteland with great sandstone plateaus in the distance. It was as if we had entered a land devoid of life. On the fifth day, however, a group of Agraci riders joined us; black-clad figures mounted on camels armed with long spears. They were led by the hulking figure of Yasser, one of Haytham’s chiefs I had met when the king had brought his army to face Pompey. The day was waning when he and his men appeared and so we invited him to stay with us for the night.

Gallia and I entertained him in my command tent, along with Byrd, Malik, Orodes, Nergal and Domitus. Gallia sat next to Yasser flattering and teasing the grizzled old warrior. His previous suspicion of us seemed to have evaporated, though he saw no reason for our fortified camp.

‘Haytham rules all this land, there is no enemy here.’

‘We have our procedures, Yasser,’ I said, ‘we stick to what is tried and tested.’

‘You march to make war on Mesene?’ he winked at Gallia.

‘You are well informed,’ I replied.

He smiled. ‘We knew that you would strike at Mesene as soon as you had defeated its army.’

‘You approve of my course of action?’

‘Of course, you cannot allow Chosroes to live after such base treachery.’

‘We do not go to kill Chosroes, Yasser,’ said Gallia, ‘we go to show him that Dura is not a toy to be played with.’

I said nothing but Yasser caught my eye and smiled knowingly. I also saw Domitus smile to himself.

Yasser accompanied us south to the ford across the Euphrates some fifty miles from Uruk. Of the enemy we saw nothing, though Yasser told me that after his losses at Dura Chosroes would have few soldiers left.

‘Prince Malik told us of the great fires that were used to turn the dead Mesenians into ashes.’

‘My men counted near nine thousand enemy dead,’ I said.

‘I doubt that there are any soldiers left in Uruk,’ was Yasser’s approving comment.

The next day I summoned Surena to my tent.

‘I want you to ride south to your people and spread the word that the time of Chosroes is over,’ I told him. ‘Take a company of horse archers and recruit any who can carry a weapon. You can start by enlisting that little group of bandits that you belonged to. Bring any that join you north to link up with the army at Uruk.’

Surena was shocked. ‘They will be slaughtered, lord. My people have no weapons aside from what they have taken from the enemy.’

‘I know this, Surena. But it is not my intention to get your people killed.’

‘I do not understand, lord.’

‘Neither do I,’ added Domitus, who was seated nearby.

‘It is quite simple,’ I said. ‘If Chosroes learns that the marsh people are in revolt, he will send troops to crush them. But we will intercept them before they reach your people, Surena. Yasser is wrong when he states that Chosroes has no troops left, so I want to entice some of them out of Uruk where they can be dealt with in the open.’

When Surena had left I called together Nergal and Orodes and worked out how we would spring our trap. I sent Byrd and Malik ahead to scout the land and ensure that there were no enemy forces approaching our location, which was still on the west bank of the Euphrates. We had actually marched south of the Mesenian capital to reach the ford.

At night we set no fires, which meant the men grumbled, wrapped their cloaks around them and chewed on cold food. Their moaning was a small price to pay for our veil of secrecy. For the fires of twenty thousand men would be seen for miles, even by the sentries on the high walls of Uruk. Five days after Surena had left, Byrd and Malik returned to inform me that a large group of marsh people had left the safety of their watery domain and were heading north as requested.

‘They have a collection of old shields, spears, a few swords and long knives,’ said Malik with disdain.

‘They no soldiers,’ added Byrd.

‘That is our job,’ I said.

I told them to return to Surena and inform him that he would be receiving reinforcements shortly, but that he must keep heading in the direction of Uruk. I then ordered Domitus to send two cohorts to support Surena. Domitus was most unhappy.

‘I thought we were here to take Uruk.’

‘And so we are, Domitus.’

‘Then why are we wasting two cohorts of good men playing nursemaid to a bunch of vagrants?’

‘I too do not understand,’ said Orodes.

‘Listen, my friends,’ I replied. ‘Chosroes hates the marsh people, so when he learns that they are marching on his capital he will send troops to destroy them. Only when he does, they will be running into a trap.’

‘If he’s got wind that we are here,’ replied Domitus, ‘he’ll barricade himself inside his city and won’t take the bait.’

Domitus, as ever, saw everything in purely military terms, and he was right. Having lost the majority of his army in a recent battle no commander would further weaken his forces on dispersing a band of marsh people. But I knew that Chosroes despised the Ma’adan and would relish the opportunity to slaughter them. In any case, as far Chosroes was concerned Dura’s army was still in its homeland. My gamble paid off, for Byrd and Malik brought news that a body of horsemen had indeed left Uruk and were riding south to intercept Surena. Chosroes had no system of forts such as existed in Hatra, to pass on information to neighbouring strongholds or watchtowers. Sitting in his capital he was effectively blind.

Mesene is mostly flat, with a highly cultivated strip on the eastern side of the Euphrates, extending inland for a distance of around two miles. As in Hatra there is also another belt of rich agricultural land on the other side of the kingdom, along the River Tigris. Byrd and Malik had reported that there was little activity on the opposite side of the river, no doubt because many of the farmers who had worked the land had been killed at Dura. Their families must have taken refuge in Uruk. It was now time for us to cross the river.

As the Euphrates begins the final leg of its long journey before it enters the Persian Gulf, the depth of the river lessens and there are many fords that will allow an army to cross. Nevertheless, it took two days to transport the men and beasts and the hundreds of wagons over to the other side. Nergal sent parties of horsemen many miles ahead of the crossing to ensure that we were not surprised, but there were no hostile moves against us. When everything and everyone was across the river, Domitus made camp and I rode with Orodes at the head of five hundred cataphracts and their squires to intercept and destroy the Mesenians who had been sent from Uruk. We rode across cultivated land and then arid, featureless desert as we headed south. At midday on the second day of our journey we saw a great dust cloud on the horizon — we had found the enemy.

Byrd and Malik joined us as we were equipping our horses with scale armour from the camel train that accompanied us. It was mercilessly hot and I knew that horse and rider would not be able to spend many hours encased in steel armour, thick hide and iron scales. Byrd told me that the enemy was five miles south of our position.

‘They made camp hereabouts last night and wait for their prey.’

‘Where are Surena and his men?’ I asked.

‘Ten miles south of the Mesenians,’ said Malik. ‘Your foot soldiers are also with them.’

‘Did you count the Mesenians, Byrd?’

He squinted in the sunlight. ‘Not more than a thousand, mostly spearmen and horse archers. No problem for your horsemen.’

We left the camels under a guard of squires and then began our journey. My plan was hardly subtle. We would ride south in two lines and strike the enemy while they were attacking the marsh people. I thanked Shamash that the cohorts had linked up with Surena. I was unconcerned about the legionaries, they could handle cavalry easily enough, but if the marsh people had been intercepted before my men had linked up with them, then the desert would be littered with their corpses by now.

On we rode, the dust cloud filling the horizon where men were fighting and dying. At around two miles from our target we broke into a canter, my kontus resting on my right shoulder. The sounds of battle were pulling me, making my heart race as the lure of combat made my blood race through my body. Remus strained at the leash to break into a gallop, for he too knew the sounds of battle. Not yet, my friend, have patience. On we rode, now less than half a mile from the bloody maelstrom. I could see figures ahead, men on horseback riding parallel to a line of shields — Duran shields!

I brought down my kontus and grabbed it with both hands on the right side of Remus.

The enemy spotted us as we broke into a fast gallop, hurtling across the iron-hard earth towards them. They desperately tried to form a line as we closed on them, riders lowering their spears and then moving toward us. But we had the momentum and when we hit them their thin line disintegrated. My kontus felt as light as a feather as I clutched it hard, drove it into the chest of a horsemen then let it go. I drew my sword and slashed left and right at figures as I thundered through the enemy formation and then wheeled Remus around and went back to the melee. A figure lunged at me with his spear but the point glanced off the metal rings protecting my arm. I brought my sword down and hacked at his shoulder as he rode past me, the blade cutting into flesh. These riders had shields and helmets but wore no armour protection over their torsos. Many had been speared in our first charge and now my horsemen went to work with their swords and maces. The enemy could find no way through our scale armour and metal leg and arm protection. A figure dressed in an ornate helmet and scale cuirass came at me with his sword, driving the point towards my face. I parried his blow and then swung at him with my spatha but he deflected my blade. He used his sword with great dexterity, thrusting and then withdrawing it, always looking for a gap in my defences. I raised my blade above my head and brought it down against his neck but he blocked the blow and then drove his sword point into my arm. The metal rings fortunately deflected the blow. We fought for what seemed like an eternity and I forgot about what was happening around me. Once more he raised his sword above his head, and then an arrow slammed into the side of his chest. He froze, looked down at the feathered shaft protruding from his flesh and then slowly lowered his sword. Another arrow hit him in the back and he pitched forward in the saddle, dropping his sword. I looked past him and saw Surena on his horse with a bow in his hand. He nocked another arrow and then shot my opponent in the back once more. The man gently slid out of his saddle and fell to the ground. Surena rode up to me.

He spat at the dying figure beneath us. ‘That is Chosran, the eldest son of Chosroes who has persecuted my people for many years.’

The son of Chosroes lay on the ground face-up, blood oozing from his mouth as he tried to gasp for air. Around us the last remnants of the Mesenian horsemen were being killed, while their horse archers, who had been trying to break the square of legionaries, turned tail and ran. I gave orders to let them go — most likely they would flee to Uruk and we would have another chance to kill them soon enough.

Surena strung another arrow in his bowstring to shoot at the prostrate figure of Chosran.

‘No,’ I ordered, ‘slit his throat and have done with it.’

But Surena merely sniffed, spat on the ground once more, replaced his arrow in his quiver and wheeled his horse away. I slid off Remus’ back and knelt beside Chosran. He was already more than half dead, his eyes wide and vacant and his breathing very shallow. I pulled my dagger from its sheath and drew it swiftly across his throat to send him into the next life.

‘Know that it was your father’s treachery that led you to this place.’

Orodes rode up as I began to take off my arm and leg armour and dump it on the ground. Others were doing likewise, for the heat was intolerable.

‘That was easy enough, Pacorus.’

‘How many did we kill?’

Orodes looked around. ‘Difficult to say at this juncture, but our first charge must have cut most of them down.’ He looked at the dead figure at my feet. ‘Who is that?’

‘One of Chosroes’ sons. I’m hoping that when he learns of his death Chosroes himself will march out to exact vengeance on me.’

‘I doubt that,’ mused Orodes.

In the battle’s aftermath the squires brought us water and helped us take off the horses’ scale armour. It may have saved them from missiles and blades in combat but it caused them to sweat horrendously. Our own losses amounted to five dead and a similar number wounded, while we counted over three hundred enemy bodies. Not as many as I would have liked, but it was three hundred less men who would be defending the walls of Uruk.

We burnt our own dead and left the Mesenians to rot. The cohorts that I had sent to link up with the marsh people were commanded by a grizzled Thracian named Drenis, a man who had not only served under Spartacus in Italy but had also been a gladiator in the same ludus in Capua. How long ago that time seemed now.

‘They tried to charge through us at first. They must have thought we were just a bunch of ill-armed savages. So we formed into line and then emptied many saddles with our javelins. They were a bit more wary of us after that.’

‘Did you lose many men?’

‘No, about ten or twelve wounded, none killed. Our main problem was keeping these people,’ he jerked his head towards the great crowd of Ma’adan, ‘from trying to run after the enemy horsemen when they fell back to reform.’

‘Well done, Drenis, you have helped a great deal today.’

‘I don’t think those marsh people will be much help against Uruk,’ he said, ‘they have hardly any weapons and no discipline.’

‘They are the future of Mesene, Drenis.’

‘Really?’ He looked long and hard at the long line of bare-footed, scruffy individuals tramping after his cohorts. ‘No wonder it’s a shit-hole.’

Surena, though, was delighted and on the way back to camp was full of grandiose plans about how he would form all the marsh people into a great army.

‘These are only the ones I was able to muster in a short amount of time.’

‘I think that most of your people would like to remain in their homeland, Surena.’

‘I don’t,’ he announced.

I had to smile. When we had met he had been a wild boy from the marshes, content to live among water buffalo and cane and mud huts. Now he was on his way to being an accomplished officer in what I liked to think was the finest army in the Parthian Empire. For him it was impossible to go back to his former life.

‘I think, Surena, that the point of the matter is that your people should be allowed to live their lives unmolested.’

‘What king in Uruk will allow that, lord?’

‘An enlightened one, Surena; one who will respect your people and their way of life.’

‘Kings have always persecuted my people, lord.’

‘You must have faith that things will change. I predict a new dawn for your people.’

‘I hope so, lord, I hope so.’

The mood of Domitus noticeably darkened when our guests arrived at camp. He was less than impressed by a couple of thousand more mouths to feed.

‘We’ll be on half-rations in a week,’ he complained. ‘I don’t suppose they brought any food with them?’

‘They are our new allies, Domitus. Make sure they are fed and well treated.’

‘I’ll make sure anything valuable is guarded, more like.’

‘It is important that they take away with them a favourable impression of us,’ I said. ‘Surena once looked liked them, and you will agree that he has turned into a fine soldier.’

‘There’s always an exception, but I will do as you command.’

The marsh people were allocated a corner of the camp and were given food and tents to sleep in. Surena was placed in temporary command of them and he took to the task with relish. It helped that some of them had been his fellow associates in crime, and so he soon had officers of sorts to assist him. Domitus wanted them to sleep outside the camp, but that would have been an obvious insult and would have left them very vulnerable to any attacks against us. Not that there was any sign of the enemy, or indeed any signs of life at all. Byrd and Malik had ridden far and wide and reported people fleeing towards Uruk with their meagre belongings, no doubt hastened in their flight by the sight of Agraci warriors in their homeland. The latter had even approached the walls of the great city itself but had seen no enemy patrols on the roads.

‘Chosroes must be keeping what soldiers he has inside the city,’ remarked Malik as he was relaxing in my tent after he and Byrd had returned from their scouting.

‘Uruk has high walls,’ remarked Byrd.

I had called a war council when they had returned for I was eager to get to Uruk.

‘That is why we have brought the Romans and their siege engines,’ I said. ‘High walls make good targets.’

‘Sieges take time,’ muttered Domitus. He was still unhappy about the presence of the Ma’adan inside the camp.

‘Not this one, Domitus,’ I replied. ‘I have been talking to Marcus and we have hatched a plan to bring it to a speedy conclusion.’

‘Will you give Chosroes an opportunity to surrender, Pacorus?’ Orodes was a true friend, but I knew that he was uneasy about attacking the capital city of one of the empire’s kings. I would have liked to dispense with the formalities but I valued Orodes’ friendship too much to upset his sense of protocol.

I smiled at him. ‘Of course. I would prefer it if we could enter the city without shedding any blood.’

‘Ha,’ Domitus had a mischievous grin on his face. ‘There’s more chance of a mule pissing gold than that happening.’

Gallia frowned at his coarseness. ‘Perhaps you could persuade Chosroes to surrender, Domitus, as you have such a way with words?’

‘We will have to storm the city, of that I’m sure,’ said Domitus. ‘And it will take a long time.’ He looked at Malik. ‘The walls are high, you say?’

‘Very high, and there are many towers.’

‘Archers could inflict much harm on an attacker,’ added Byrd.

‘Then you are looking at between three and six months to take the city, though you might starve them out before then.’

Domitus folded his arms and sat with a smug expression on his face. Gallia frowned once more and Byrd looked disinterested. I had asked Praxima to join us, which caused something of a surprise among the others.

‘What do you think, Praxima?’ I asked.

All eyes fell on the wife of Nergal, who was dressed in her leggings and mail shirt, her wild hair about her shoulders. Fearsome and fearless in battle, she was now very uncertain.

‘I know nothing about strategy, lord.’

‘Nonsense,’ I said, ‘you have fought in nearly as many battles as I have. What would you do, attack or sit around doing nothing?’

Domitus looked away in disgust, while Nergal looked perplexed.

‘I would attack, lord,’ she replied.

‘And so we will,’ I announced. ‘We break camp in the morning.’

Gallia cornered me after the others had left.

‘Since when did Praxima have a voice on the war council?’

‘Since today,’ I replied.

‘And you are suddenly interested in her opinion?’

‘Of course, why not?’

She was unconvinced. ‘Because you usually listen to no one but yourself, that is why.’

‘I have to say that is unfair.’

‘But true,’ she retorted.

I said no more and eventually she threw up her arms and left. I would reveal my plan when we stood in the royal palace at Uruk. Until then it would remain a secret.

The march to Uruk was uneventful, though as usual Nergal threw a screen of horsemen all around the army. Domitus placed Surena and the Ma’adan in the very rear of the army, which ensured that they were covered in the dust thrown up by those that went before them. This appealed to his cruel streak. After two days of marching and seeing no enemy we arrived before the southern walls of Uruk.

Uruk, famed city of history. It was rumoured to be five thousand years old, or at least there had been people living on its site for that long. High, mud-brick walls surrounded the city with towers at regular intervals. They had been built over four thousand years ago by a great warrior king named Gilgamesh. The city was located some five miles from the Euphrates and was connected to the great river by a series of canals that brought water to Uruk. One of the reasons for these was to irrigate the great gardens inside the city that had been created by its kings for their recreation. The gates into the city were located at the four points of the compass, though the main gates were those that faced south. These were flanked by two high, square towers from which flew the viper standard of Chosroes. He had hoped to plant his banner on Dura’s walls but I promised myself that soon the griffin would be atop those towers. The gates were slammed shut as the army surrounded the city and the Roman engineers positioned their siege engines. Marcus thought it would be straightforward enough.

‘A city this size, filled with refugees and with no relief army to march to its aid — might as well starve them out. Tedious, but effective.’

‘But if we starve them out you will not be able to demonstrate your machines,’ I said, ‘and I was so looking forward to seeing them in action.’

He looked at me as though I had gone mad. ‘Starving them will save you a lot of blood.’

‘You let me worry about that.’

I walked with him towards the southern gates while Domitus and Nergal organised their commands. The Duran Legion set up its camp to the south of the city and the Exiles were positioned on its northern side. Kuban and his wild men were ordered to form a defensive screen to the east and Nergal established company sized camps up to twenty miles from the city in all directions. Beyond them all rode Byrd, Malik and their Agraci scouts. In this way I would have plenty of prior notice if any enemy relief force approached, such as Narses.

‘Narses won’t come,’ said Domitus bluntly. ‘He won’t risk being beaten just to save Chosroes.’

‘Alas for Chosroes,’ remarked Orodes, ‘he chose his allies unwisely.’

‘Don’t waste your pity on him,’ I said. ‘He would have none if the roles were reversed.’

At the end of the first day, when the army had settled into its positions around Uruk, I convened a meeting of the war council to determine the next day’s course of action. I had invited Marcus to attend after we had finished our inspection of the city’s defences.

‘This is the plan,’ I said, smiling at Marcus. ‘The attack will commence tomorrow when we begin battering the main gates and the towers next to them. We will keep shooting at them until we have effected an entry.’

‘Those walls look very thick,’ mused Nergal.

‘And very strong,’ added Domitus.

‘May I speak, sir?’ said Marcus, raising his right hand.

‘Be my guest,’ I replied.

He stood up and bowed awkwardly to me and Gallia, then Praxima. Orodes grinned and Domitus raised his eyes to the ceiling. Gallia nodded back to him courteously while Byrd looked bored by it all. Malik raised his hand in greeting.

‘Well,’ said Marcus, ‘I have given the matter careful consideration and believe that my engines can break those gates.’

‘And if you can’t?’ Domitus was unconvinced.

‘Then we will find another way,’ I said. ‘The point is that we are here and will not be leaving until I we have taken the city. Thank you, Marcus.’

‘Will you still try to convince Chosroes to surrender, Pacorus?’ Sometimes I found Orodes’ sense of protocol extremely irksome. I bit my lip.

‘Of course, as I promised.’